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Restoration Pictures

Whenever a derelict canal is to be restored, the first practical job is to clear out and remove the growth of trees, bushes etc. which have grown up during the period when the canal was neglected. In the case of the Wey & Arun Canal the period of neglect had been well over a century.

Many of the original brick arch accommodation bridges had been allowed to decay and some had been demolished. A number of the locks which had survived, now had mature trees growing out from the chamber walls. Parts of the canal bed had been filled in and that which had escaped, was now completely overgrown.

Recent images of work taking place at key restoration sites are shown below as slideshows. Click on one of these to see more pictures.

An overview of the restoration work taking place on the canal can be seen on the Restoration Map.

Gennets Bridge Lock

Credits: Julian Nowell - 21 March 2018

Horse rider at Gennets

Credits: Dennis Gillen - 8 March 2018

The seat is made of recovered original timbers from the lock, commissioned by the landowner Nigel Gibbons.

Credits: Dennis Gillen - 8 March 2018

Plenty of water above the new Gennets Bridge Lock

Credits: Dennis Gillen - 8 March 2018

Canal full of water and towpath to the north of Gennets Bridge Lock.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 20 October 2017

Gennets Bridge Lock group photo

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 20 October 2017

Gennets Bridge Lock group photo

Credits: Len Hasler - 7 September 2017

Geoff Thomas places the last brick in the lock walls.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 24 August 2017

Checking the level of coping bricks

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 14 June 2017

Applying the finishing touches to the coping stone on the pier at the end on the parapet wall.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 8 June 2017

Filling the cavity of the southern parapet wall. The reinforcing mesh is fitted in the centre of the cavity which will give the parapet considerable strength.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 7 June 2017

Coping stones being cemented in place on the north parapet of the bridge below the lock.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 9 April 2017

Bricklaying underway at Gennets Bridge Lock

Credits: Richard Emsley - 6 April 2017

Forming the coping 'stones' on the nearside lock chamber wall. Note the bollard embedded in the concrete.

Credits: Richard Emsley - 6 April 2017

Adding more brick courses to the south parapet wall of Gennets accommodation bridge.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 30 March 2017

Spreading the concrete to form the copings on the offside lock chamber wall.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 23 March 2017

Building one of the piers at the end of the parapet wall.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 23 March 2017

Brickwork on nearside chamber wall is within three courses of the coping level. The lower gate recess is on the left and one of the ladder recesses is on the extreme right of the picture.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 16 March 2017

The concrete casting for the upper offside cill is now complete, with the paddle culvert to the right and the back pumping culvert to the left. The bare concrete will be clad in bricks in the same way as the main chamber walls.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 10 March 2017

Laying an inner course the bridge parapet wall. Steel reinforcing netting is sandwiched between the two brick walls and the cavity filled with concrete. This results in a very strong wall which can withstand vehicles.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 2 March 2017

Laying an outer course of the bridge parapet wall.

Credits: Geoff Thomas - 16 February 2017

Casting the offside copings at the top of the lower gate recess.

Summit Slipway

Credits: Gill Davies - 30 September 2018

The Moodle - a Wilderness Beaver narrowboat - being lowered down the new Thriscutt Slipway

Credits: Julian Morgan - 5 May 2018

The new slipway takes shape

Credits: Julian Morgan - 27 October 2017

Summit Slipway excavation works

Credits: Sally Schupke - 23 September 2017

We welcomed London WRG visiting group to the Summit slipway site over the weekend of 23-24th September. Seen here is their digger driver, Adrian, levelling the canal bank.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 15 July 2017

Summit slipway and new compound

Credits: Peter Jewell - 14 July 2016

The plastic barrier sheet (geomat) being laid. The workgroup was led by Rob Nicholson.

Credits: Peter Jewell - 14 July 2016

Crushed masonry dumped, spread and rolled on the barrier sheet. The workgroup was led by Rob Nicholson.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 13 July 2016

During the second week of the WACT 2016 Summer Work Camp, excavation for a slipway near Compasses Bridge was carried out. In this picture the canal is just beyond the marker post in the centre.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 13 July 2016

The canal can be seen in the left of the picture. The slipway is to be known as the Sydney Thriscutt slipway.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 13 July 2016

A view in the opposite direction with the canal on the right. The workgroup was led by Rob Nicholson.

Compasses Bridge

Credits: Sally Schupke - 23 September 2017

The dedication plaque in its final position on Compasses bridge.

Credits: Sally Schupke - 23 September 2017

Landscaped area complete with new bench donated by Mr Paul Dalby in memory of his father.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 24 June 2017

Compasses Bridge

Credits: Julian Morgan - 20 May 2017

Compasses Bridge, now with water

Credits: Julian Morgan - 18 March 2017

View looking south of the landing stage and steps. Picture taken from the towpath ramp.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 18 March 2017

The newly constructed steps adjacent to Compasses Bridge. With topsoil being spread to enable the area to be grassed.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 18 March 2017

Fill being spread to form the new towpath ramp. View looking north east from the top of the new landing stage steps.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 23 July 2016

The training wall on the south east side of the canal. This is being combined with a viewing platform.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 23 July 2016

The blockwork training wall being built. The inside, the right will be backfilled with concrete. Note the remains of the original bridge abutment just behind the bricklayer's right elbow.

Credits: Julian Morgan - 23 July 2016

Volunteers at the WACT Summer Work Camp building the training walls on the north east side of the bridge. Note the temporary access steps supported by the scaffolding.

Working Parties & Other Sites

Credits: Sally Schupke - 23 September 2017

BITM working at Lordings site, near Wisborough Green.

Credits: Matthew Carpenter - 9 September 2017

Visiting working party, BiTM, undertook clearance work along the Lordings stretch near Wisborough Green